Apparatus for rifle, gunnery, and like practice.



F. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND LIKE PRACTICE.

APPLICATION FILED FBBJ, 1908. RENEWED ARE. 7, 1913.

1,075,59, Patented 00t.14,1913.

8 SHEET$SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH conwAsnmfi roN. D. c.

-P. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND LIKE PRACTICE. APPLICATION FILEDFEB.1, 1908. RENEWED APR. 7, 1913A LO75,589, Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

8 SHEETSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, D c.

F. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND LIKE PRACTICE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.1, 1908. RENEWED APR.7, 1913.

1,075,589, Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EoLuMnu PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

F. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND LIKE PRACTICE.

APPLICATION FILED M231, 1908. RENEWED APR. 7, 1913.

1,0?5,589, Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HHHIIIIIIIIHI 'llllllllu P. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND'LIKB PRACTICE.

APPLICATION FILED r23. 1, 190a. RENEWED APR. 7, 1913.

1,075,589, I Patented 0011.14, 1913.

8 SHBETS-SHEET 51 Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

COLUMBIA PLANOGIAH c0 uAsmNuToN n g F. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND LIKE PRACTICE APPLICATION IIL'ED FEB.1, 190B. RENEWED APR. 7, 1913,

Patented 0013. 14, 1913.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7 I P. MITCHELL.

APPARATUS FOR RIFLE, GUNNERY, AND LIKE PRACTICE.

APPLICATION FILED TEBJ, 1908. RENEWED APR. 7, 1913. 3 1 075 5 9 Patented0013.14, 1913.

8 SHEET S-SHEET 8.

TINTTE S PATENT FRANK MITCHELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO ATLANTIC NATIONAL BANK, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ACORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14,1913.

Application filed February 1, 1908, Serial No. 413,799. Renewed April 7,1913. Serial No. 759,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, FRANK MITCHELL, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Hammersmith, London, W, in England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Rifle, Gunnery, andlike Practice, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to improvements in apparatus for rifle, gunneryand like practice and has reference to target practice apparatus of thetype which records or inclicates on a miniature target or otherwise theaccuracy of aim of a gun or aiming device without it being necessary toactually fire at the objective target, at which, however, aim is takenand the firing action gone through in the ordinary manner.

One feature of apparatus according to the present invention is theprovision of what may be termed a planetary member which moves over asubstantially spherical surface having as its center a point on thetarget aimed at. Under these conditions a line joining two points on theplanetary member with the point on the target aimed at which forms thecenter of the spherical surface will always be a radius of the spherewhatever may be the position of the planetary member on the surface.This feature of the invention may be carried out in various ways, andthe guiding surface need not necessarily be part of an actual sphere,but may be formed of guides which cause the planetary member to move asif it were actually traveling over a spherical surface. This motion ofthe planetary member over a substantially spherical guiding surfacedistinguishes the invention from the mere mounting of the gun upon aball and socket joint on the top of a fixed arcshaped slide adapted towork in one line only to allow for variations in the height of themarksmen.

An indicator or pointer may be mounted on the planetary member in such away that when undisturbed it maintains a constant relationship with theplanetary member. The gun or aiming device may be connected to theplanetary member, say, by means of a universal joint and may be arrangedin connection with the pointer so that any inaccuracy of aim of the gunwill disturb the relationship between the pointer and the planetarymember, such disturbance being indicated on a miniature target, which inthis case might be carried by the planetary member.

As is usual in apparatus of the type with which this invention isconcerned, it is necessary that relative movement should occur betweenthe miniature target and the indicator or pointer at the moment offiring, and the present invention includes improved arrangements forbringing about such relative motion. Further, various improvedarrangements for magnifying the amount of movement of the gun out of itstrue alinement before such movements are recorded on the miniaturetarget come within the scope of the invention and are hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 afront view of one construction of target-practice apparatus according tothis invention. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified apparatus,Figs. 4 and 5 are views slightly in perspec tive each showing anotherform of apparatus according to this invention, and Figs. 6, 7 8 and 9are side elevations each showing a modified form of apparatus. Fig. 6shows details of part of the construction illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 10is a front elevation of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11is a side elevation showing another construction of apparatus accordingto this invention. Fig. 12 shows another form of apparatus alsoaccording to this invention, and Figs. 13 and letare diagramsillustrating other methods of magnifying the motion of the gun or aimingdevice.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a base or stand supporting a rodor stem A adjustable in the stand and carrying disks or plates A Theback surface of the two upper disks A and the front surface of the lowerdisk A are shaped and disposed so that they form part of a sphericalsurface having as its center a point on the target aimed at. The stem Ais likewise curved and works in a curved opening A in the stand A, thecurve of the two parts being struck from the same center as the abovementioned spherical surface.

B is a planetary member having three surfaces B adapted to slide incontact with the disks A Mounted upon the planetary member B by auniversal joint as at B is arod C, and a gun D is mounted: as at D onthe rod with freedom to slide. are provided so that one or other of themis compressed when the gun is pulled away from or pushed toward thetarget. A bracket B forming part of the planetary member B carries anindicator or pointer E- mounted upon it as at E and the front extremityof this rod E is in engagement with the rod C, that is with the gun,While its rear end terminates in pricke'r' adjacent to a holder F for aminiature target, this holder being stationary with regard to theplanetary member B. Anarm A extends rearwardly from the sterrr Al toform a support for the gun when not in use. I

The apparatus intended to be adjusted sothat when the gun is truly aimedwith relation to the target aimed at, the pricker on the rod E iscentral with the miniature target in the holder F, and it will be seenthat any angular displacement of the gun relatively to the planetarymember B will move the pointer I with relation to the miniaturetarget-holder F. I hand, it will seen that the planetary member' B withthe gun D may be moved about all over the surfaces A without alteringthe relationship between the indicatorfE and the miniature target-holderF providing that the aim be true. Contact is made between the miniaturetarget and the pricker any convenient way; some methods are herein:after illustrated, but are not shown in Fig.

The form shown in Fig. 3' is one in which only one disk A is used, theother portions ofthe guiding surface being formed by horns or arms Aworking in conjunction with arms 13* .on' the planetary member. In thiscase both the arms A and B' should have spherical surfaces. Thisconstruction is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, but leavesmore space for sighting in front of the marksman. In these constructionsit will be seen that the planetary member B is unattached to the guidingsurface, but owing to its shape and disposition is kept in contacttherewith by gravity when in operation. A; spring or equivalent may,however, be used to keep the two members in working contact.

Fig. 4 is a construction illustrating the fact that the substantiallyspherical guiding surface may be obtained by meansof curved rods. Therods G are curved as p'art'sof circles having a point on the targetaimed at as their center, and similarly curved sleeves G slide up anddown upon the rods and are joined by other rods G These in their turnare curved from the same center and, carry the planetary member B whichis free to slide along them. It will be seen that this arrangementadmits of the planetary mem- Springs D well as moved up and down. guiderail J is provided working in conjunc- I tion with the lower portion Bof the planeton the outer ber 13 being placed within limits on any pointof a spherical surface having a point on" the target aimed at as itscenter.

Fig. 5 illustrates the same principle, the planetary member beingprovided with a curved rod B which can slide up and down a sleeve" Hsupported on trunnions H so that the planetary member may be swung as Acurved ary member, and the curvature of the rod B and guide railJcorresponds, the previous example, to a circle struck from a point orthe target is be aimed at.

In Fig. 6 the planetary member is in the fcrni of a curved flat orsquare stem B sliding'up an'd'down guide K mounted upon an ZL'XTQ Kwhich is set initially sothat it is in line with a point on the targetto be aimed at. The curve of the stem B is struck from the same pointand therefore it is possible to move the planetary member practicallyanywhere over a limited area forming a substantially spherical surface.

L to arevent the 'oi'nter' from movin bel P n youd the area of theminiature target, and in order to allowfree angular movement of the gunbeyond the' amount giving this limitingmovement' of the indicator, thegun is connected to' the front end of the rod E by means of a spring Lwhich, as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with a recess L to" accommodatethe end of the rod E. If any excessive angular motion occurs, the rod iiwill'slip out of the recess L and become, for the time being,disconnected, connection being again made as socn as the position of thegun comes somewhat nearer the proper aiming line. H V v The constructionillustrated in 7 si'ibstantially' similar to that described withreference to Fig. 6, except that the in-andout movement of the gurrto'and from the targetto' be aimed at is obtained, not a slide B' but bymounting the axle}: on guidesor runners K 1 As'before, the axle K isinitially set so that it is in line with the point on the target to beaimed at. In Figs. 6 and 7 a coiinter-balan'ce' weight it is shown, andwill be appreciated thatapparatus for a like purpose may be applied toany of the constructions described.

Fig. 8 differs from the forms shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in that the axle Kis in two parts joined by a yoke or crank K one poi:

tion bearing the sleeve K mounted on trunnions K and the other portionengaging one extremity of the indicator E. Extension arms K from thesleeve K form a hearing for the indicator as at K and the miniaturetarget-holder F is mounted adjacent to the other end of the indicatorupon a sleeve K to which the trunnions are attached. In thisconstruction the gun is hinged to the stem B as at B", and, as in theprevious constructions described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7, thestem can be slid in and out of the sleeve K, and the whole apparatusturned about the axis of the axle K which is radial to the target.Further, the axle l 1 be made to slide to and fro longitudinally in itsbearings K all these motions taking place without disturb ance of therelationship between the indica tor E and the miniature target in theholder F supposing the gun to be kept in its true aiming line. If,however, the aim be inaccurate, the apparatus would be rocked on itstrunnions K', or the sleeve K will tend to be turned relatively to thesleeve K hence, the indicator E will be moved relatively to theminiature target in the holder F. In this construction the planetarymember B does not maintain a constant relationship with the target aimedat, but follows the motion of the gun and transmits such motion to whatmay be regarded as part of the axle K namely the sleeve K.

Fig. 9 shows another form of apparatus according to this invention inwhich the spherical guiding surface A supported on a standard A has anextension rod A above it curved with the same radius as the sphericalsurface and provided with a sliding sleeve A prevented from turning by aguide or feather A. This sleeve carries an arm A through which avertical rod B passes, and is arranged to turn or rock on the arm A butnot to slide vertically therein. This rod B is attached to a planetarymember in the form of a ring B arranged to work in conjunction with thespherical surface A. The ring B is arranged to carry at its centor theminiature target-holder F, and is provided with arms B supporting aplate B in which is movably mounted the indicator E. The arm A carriesat its extremity a sleeve A which can turn about the arm andaccommodates a rod L connected to the indicator E, the point or markerof which operates in conjunction with the miniat-ure target carried inthe frame F near the center of the ring B The rods 13 and L are eachconnected through universal joints to the gun D, and the gun may bemoved freely within the limits allowed by the guiding surface A withoutaltering the relative positions of the miniature target and theindicator E, but if the aim he inaccurate the lower extremity of the rodL will move the indicator E and indicate the inaccurate aim upon theminiature target.

Fig. 11 is intended simply to illustrate a convenient method of movingthe miniature target when it is carried upon the gun. A. bent tube P isfixed in an appropriate position on the gun and forms a guide for a wireP connected at one end with the firing bolt D and at the other to thestem of the miniature target-holder F. Obviously a similar arrangementcould be used to move the indicator or marker instead of the target.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic illustration of one way in which the angularmovements of the gun can be transmitted to an indicator E separate fromthe gun and working in conjunction with a miniature target F. In thisconstruction by way of example a rod E is shown mounted on the planetarymember 13 as at B This planetary member B", it will be understood, canbe so mounted as to move like the other planetary members or radial rodsbefore described so as to be always in proper alinement with the target.A light spring B is provided to support the rod E and give it a definitenormal position. To the free end of the rod E are attached the ends ofcords R- passing over pulleys and through guide tubes R to the indicatoror marker E upon a separate support A The cords It come from twodifferent directions and are so arranged that the movements of the rod Ecan be transmitted y them to the indicator E The gun D is universallymounted upon the planetary member B and engages with the rod E through asaddle or clip D so arranged that if there be any wide movement of thegun. the clip or saddle can leave the rod and thus prevent any risk ofstraining the indicating mechanism.

Various other methods of transmitting the motion from the gun to theminiature target and of magnifying such motion may be employed; forexample Fig. 13 indicates diagrammatically an arrangement correspondingto the well known pantograph. The gun, or the rod E connected with it,is joined by light rods S to other rods T. These are pivoted as at T andwhile the free end of one rod is pivoted to some fixed point as at T thefree end of the other rod carries a aricker or marker at T working inconjunction with a miniature target F Fig. 14 shows another method ofmagnifying the movement. Here the rod E or the gun is attached to cordsV passing over small pulleys V on axles bearing larger pulleys V whichare connected by cords V to a pricker or marker T working in conjunctionwith the miniature target. In this case the record is magnified withoutthe use of a rod or lever.

It will be understood that various alterations may be made in theconstruction de- 1 indicator and the planetary scribed, for instance,the flexible cord connections B (Fig. 12) operating an indicator Eseparate from the gun might be employed in conjunction with a gunmounted, say, for example, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. Oragain, the sliding mount to allow in and out movement of the guide shownin Fig. (3 might be applied to the form illustrated in Fig. 9.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis- 1. In target-practice apparatus the combination with an aimingdevice of a planetary member associated therewith, a substantiallyspherical surface bearing having as its center a point on the targetaimed at, and means whereby the planetary memher when moved isconstrained to follow such surface.

2. In target-practice apparatus the combination of a planetary member, asubstantially spherical surface bearing having as its center a point onthe target aimed at,

" when moved is constrained to follow such as its center a point on thetarget aimed at,

means whereby the planetary member when moved is constrained to followsuch surface, an indicator movable with the planetary .member andadapted to keep in constant relation thereto when the aim is true, anaiming device connected to said planetary member and connectionsbetweenthe aiming device and the indicator so arranged that the relationsbetween the l member are disturbed when the aim is untrue.

4t. In target. practice apparatus, the combination with an aiming deviceof a planetary member attached to the aiming device, a support thereforand sliding means connecting the member to its support and adapted toconstrain the motion of such planetary member so that it sweeps out asubstantially spherical surface.

axial support in line with a point on the target aimed at, said aimingdevice being movable backward and forward on said axial support, acurved guide and a planetary.me1nber adapted. to slide on such guide.

7. In a target practice apparatus the combination ofan aiming devicehaving'a firing bolt, indicating mechanism mounted on the aiming device,a guide tube and a wire or other flexible connection within the guidetube and operatively connecting the firing bolt and the indicatingmechanism.

8. In target-practice apparatus the combination of an aiming device, apointer or indicator, means for limiting the movement of said indicator,and an engaging member between the aiming device and the indicatoradapted to automatically release said aim.- ing-member when the amountof its motion exceeds that allowed by the limitingmech anism of theindicator.

9. In a target practiceapparatus the com} bination with an aiming devicehaving a guiding support curved with a point onthe target aimed at asits center and an axial support for the aiming device. about which thelatter is rotatable, said axial support lying on a radius ofthecurv'edsupport.

10. In a target'practice apparatus, the combination with an aimingdevice, of re.- cording mechanism including a follower to follow theaiming movement thereof, firing jmechanisin on the aiming device, a wireconnection between the. firing mechanism and therecordin'g mechanismfor. actuating the latter and a guide tube through which the wireconnection passes. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK MITCHELL.

Witnesses L. Honors, Anorm. J. FRENCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe f Commissioner of Patents,

